Method and system for automated collaboration using electronic book highlights and notations

Abstract

The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for sharing highlighted passages and notations in an electronic book. A user can highlight passages and/or notes, which are tagged and automatically sent to a designated set of recipients. The designated recipients can enter search criteria so that the highlighted passages and/or notes are displayed in their electronic book based on the specified criteria.

1. A method in a data processing system for sharing text in an electronic book, the method comprising:
 receiving selected text from at least one remote electronic book through a communications link to the data processing system, wherein the selected text includes passages from the at least one remote electronic book, and a copy of the passages from the at least one remote electronic book is also contained in the electronic book; 
 responsive to a user input, sorting the selected text from the at least one remote electronic book using a selection criteria to form sorted text, wherein the selection criteria is received with the selected text; 
 displaying the sorted text; and 
 responsive to a user input selecting at least a portion of the sorted text being displayed, highlighting portions of the electronic book based on the user input, wherein the highlighted portions of the electronic book correspond to the selected text received from that at least one remote electronic book. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein selection criteria is used to sort and group the selected text. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selection criteria includes at least one of popularity, name of a user originating text within the selected text, and subject matter of portions of text within the selected text. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected text includes annotations made by a user. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sorted text excludes a portion of the selected text.